Four defibrillators installed in County Durham town

Our Chester-le-Street and District Area Action Partnership (AAP) has awarded £5,780 from its area budget to contribute towards the installation of three defibrillators in the town.

The equipment will be maintained by Red Sky Foundation and has been installed at Community Fitness on Front Street, the town's police station, and Chester-le-Street Golf Club.

Ambulance registered

Red Sky Foundation contributed funding which will help with maintenance of the machines and the replacement of pads if a unit is used. The charity also donated an additional machine at Mains House Nursery.

These machines have been registered with the ambulance service so that, in a life-threatening emergency, the caller can be told where the nearest defibrillator is and advised on how to access it.

Vital difference

Michael Wilkes, Chester-le-Street and District AAP coordinator, said: "We are delighted to have awarded funds for the installation of defibrillators in Chester-le-Street. The defibrillators form part of our ongoing support for the health and wellbeing of residents and visitors to the town centre.

"Hopefully, they will never be needed, but this equipment can make a vital difference in saving someone's life during an emergency."

Sergio Petrucci MBE, founder of Red Sky Foundation, said: "Around 5,000 people die in the North East from sudden cardiac arrest each year. The chance of survival after using a defibrillator is increased from 7 per cent to over 75 per cent, so it is really important that people have access to these life-saving pieces of equipment."